Machine Quilting and Flower Garden Fun

So many fun things to talk about. I have been busy and not because I have been doing laundry ;)

Machine quilting is so much fun, especially when your tension is good, your bobbin doesn't run out AND your thread doesn't break. I have several smaller projects completed, a baby quilt for my niece and and few other recipient unknowns. So far they are all panel tops, no pieced projects but I do have an applique quilt to finish before my first nephew comes for a visit. I am still learning to know when and where and how to make the quilting the best I can. I am going to put a few more pantograph patterns together and really figure out the scale of the quilting design. I have had a little thread battle but I think I have that figured out, all in all, all is good.

This week I have been taken completely over by my Grandmother's Flower Garden project. I am hooked, those little flowers can keep me up way past my bedtime. Things are progressing and I love the lay out design, thanks to the internet, I have found. I also found a great tutorial on-line for basting the fabric to the cardboard template. The only thing I do different then in the photos is that I don't pin my template and fabric together, oh and I knot my thread to start and finish. I don't want the basting to come out if I leave it for a while before assembling a block. Okay so I will try to be kind but I just don't understand why you sew your fabric to the cardboard - now you can't use the template again and you have to take out the stitches. So to anyone who has sewn their templates to their fabric, I am sorry and to anyone considering a Grandma's Flower Garden Quilt using an English Paper Piecing method baste your fabric to your templates. Please send me an email if you have any questions :)

My family is great, my little ones are getting bigger. Dad is away this week, so we should get lots of sewing done... we hope.

Archived Free Applique Quilt Patterns

Spring cleaning my website is so much fun. I am cleaning up to make room for some great new patterns. These previously offered for free download or purchased download patterns are now available here for free. We ask that you use these patterns for your own personal use and respect our copy right guidelines, now that that's out of the way, on to the good stuff.

First things, here is the Three Stars and Twinkle Applique Package. This pattern package was very successful as a free download. I would love your comments and feedback on the pattern. Oh and a pictures of your completed project would be wonderful. We will include it in our Design Gallery section of the website. The pattern has been condensed onto one page but I think the scale has been kept the same. If you were one of the many to download this pattern, let me know and I can tweak it again if need be. The instructions are general so if you have any questions or need help feel free to send me an email. This is truly a quick and easy gift or project for your new addition. Trust me I know, the example shown here was finished in the wee hours one night. It was a hot night and I was 32 weeks pregnant with our second daughter. It took about and hour to cut out the stars and stitch the words, not bad really. The frame is a less expensive version of all those possible, a.k.a it came from the dollar store ;) But put it all together and it is very good, so nice you can keep it or give it away.

Alright here is a great flower pattern, originally designed for paper applique on a scrapbook page or for handmade cards. I think it would be very cute in felt on a pillow in a girls room or blanket stitched with cotton in a wall hanging. The ski is the limit so be creative and remember send us a picture of your project so we can share your creativity and I will send you a coupon for your next pattern download. Love me ... Love me not... comes in a single page pattern. It is easy to print or save on your computer for the next time you need a really easy and very cute embellishment.


Well that feels good, these are some great patterns that I hope you will enjoy. Let me know if you are looking for something in particular, I love to make patterns and if you will do the sewing, we all win! I have a few in mind to add to here this summer so check back or stay tuned as it were. Good luck with your own Spring Cleaning, may be I can get some sleep before the girls are awake. Happy Quilting !!

Too many projects and not enough time.

Things at our house are busy as usual, we are enjoying every moment as they happen or trying to at least!

Our Easter was wonderful, we really enjoyed the long weekend with Dad. The bunny made an appearance or two and the girls loved finding eggs with cousin. We ate a wonderful meal and went to bed early, what more can you ask for really?

I have taken some pictures of my Be Attitudes applique blocks, they are so much fun. I have always loved to applique and Nancy Halverson's patterns are especially fun. So beautiful and direct, not complicated or fussy. I love how her patterns are presented, easy to follow and clear. They make me re-check my patterns and aspire to the same standard. I have learned a lot from teaching others the fusible web technique and with my personal practice of late I am feeling the needed improvement with this technique. My sewing machine and I are getting along nicely and I have some real time spent perfecting my applique stitch - love it. So now I just need to finish all the blocks and get it on my quilting frame and get some practice in that department as well, that's what I love about teaching, generally the teacher learns more than the student. Thank you to my quilting group, we might be small but we are learning and sewing. :)

My latest love, other than the Be Attitudes applique, is an English Paper Piecing project. I have a local quilt store that carries the pre-cut hexagons paper templates by Paper Pieces, on the web at www.paperpieces.com They are sew much fun, pun intended. I have two sizes, the 1" and the 1 1/4", that measurement is of one side, not the diameter, keep that in mind when looking, that makes a big difference. Any who, I am slowly getting my color scheme put together and looking forward to hours spent in the car or something like that so I can make a dent. I would like the top to be at least twin so my fabric stash takes a hit and I only 'have' to buy some key fabrics. Ahh the rationalizing, at least my husband has a hobby he spends more money on. Here is a picture of the start, I will post more as things get further along.

I have some really exciting applique patterns in the works, think wild west and babies. There is also a penny rug expansion planned for The Pattern Place. Like I said at the beginning too many projects and not enough time, that and the baby is up from her nap, timing is everything :)
Happy Quilting and send me an email with your thoughts and or suggestions.

Time flies

Oooops, I missed posting here last month. Time does fly. Well here's whats new. The girls are growing and growing, we are healthy and looking forward to time spent out of doors - you can do it Spring!!!
The quilting fairy has not come and finished my projects as I slept but I have been very blessed. I was able to purchase a Grace quilting frame for quite a bargain and I am loving it. I have done only one panel top quilt as a first try and it turned out great, I did learn a few things and so I can't wait to get my machine back on the frame. I think I need to find a quilting specific machine to leave on the Grace all the time. I have had quite a machine applique focus lately, I have organized a quilt group that meets each month, we are working on the Nancy Halverson - Be Attitudes, so wonderful, I am working ahead of schedule because I love it. We meet this Thursday, I will take some pictures and post them next week.
Happy quilting, Darcy

Patterns and Pretty Things

Well January is just about over, we have been very busy having a lot of fun. The people we meet and talk quilts with are I am sure some of the most interesting around. I receive so much joy from introducing quilting to those starting or wanting to start. I love sewing quilts and appliques, I think they are so beautiful. So I hope my enthusiasm rubs off just a little and doesn't rub anyone the wrong way. Thank you to those I have met or spoken to this month and keep those questions coming.

Pattern News: The newest free applique pattern is ready to download! Hearts with Love is available for download and can be found in the free pattern section of The Pattern Place website. We hope your Valentine wishes and projects come true and of course finished for Valentine's day. We are working on several large scale applique patterns, and some seasonal patterns for a quick and easy project. Let us know your thoughts and comments on the patterns we offer. Looking a particular applique pattern, send me an email. I can make custom applique patterns just for you or add them to my current patterns for everyone to enjoy.


I spend a lot of time online, mostly playing and seeking inspiration, instruction and insights. This leads me to a lot of great web sites, some I post links to from my web site (The Pattern Place) and some I just make a mental note of. Silly me, I should post them here, that way we all can see them and frankly I might be able to remember them all a little better. So with out further ado....
visit Quilt Qua, a wonderful quilting resource of all things quilt. From blogs to articles, tips to a photo gallery its a fun place to spend a minute or two.

Let it Snow

Happy New Year!!
The holidays are great fun, we really enjoyed spending time with family and friends. We loved eating and staying up too late, watching movies and giving gifts. Sadly it is time to get back to a routine and some resemblance of bedtime, well that part I am looking forward to. So as promised last month here is 'Let it Snow' This is a wonderful and wonderfully easy applique banner made from cotton and wool felt appliques. Start with a solid fabric top, no piecing here, stitch your appliques in place, sandwich with batting and in our case the same fabric for backing. Then some quick machine quilting, I tried a new continuous line pattern, so much fun, some binding and your done. It was really fun to design and put together. We hope you enjoy and let us know if you have any questions and what you think. Happy Quilting, Darcy

'Tis the Season

What a wonderful and wonderfully busy time of the year. Our lives have been complicated due to some personal health concerns but with this added tension comes the perspective of what really matters. So we are focused on our children and extended family and a little less on the hustle and bustle of shopping and those things. We have hosted a great Christmas and Baby party so we are now looking forward to a great family night of wrapping presents, some home made and all to be given with love. An unexpected stay in the hospital has delayed the addition of a great winter banner, 'Let it Snow' to our pattern line but in the New Year I will add it, unfortunately here in Canada and in many other places there will be enough winter left to still "enjoy" its sentiments. From our family to yours may you find joy, peace and His love at this wonderful time of the year. Merry Christmas.